Vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly

Abstract

A vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly includes a multi-directional signal display assembly comprising a plurality of signal display panels. Each of the plurality of signal display panels comprising at least one display surface, and a plurality of signal indicia are affixed onto different ones of each of the plurality of display surfaces. A signal support assembly is provided such that the multi-directional signal display assembly is disposable into a deployed orientation about the signal support member. A vessel mount assembly is operatively interconnected to the signal support assembly and comprises a mount member to facilitate deployment of the multi-directional signal display assembly on the vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly deployable on a vessel, said assembly comprising:
 a collapsible multi-directional signal display assembly comprising a plurality of signal display panels, said plurality of signal display panels disposable between a deployed orientation and a collapsed orientation, 
 each of said plurality of signal display panels comprising a pair of oppositely disposed display surfaces, 
 each of said plurality of signal display panels further comprising an inner edge and an outer edge, 
 an interconnect member attached along said inner edge of each of said plurality of signal display panels, each said interconnect member comprising oppositely disposed ends, 
 a plurality of complimentary signal indicia, wherein at least one of said plurality of complimentary signal indicia is affixed onto a different one of each of said plurality of display surfaces, 
 a signal support assembly and a signal mount assembly, wherein said signal support assembly and said signal mount assembly are cooperatively structured to facilitate disposition of said plurality of signal display panels between said deployed orientation and said collapsed orientation, wherein said collapsed orientation is at least partially defined by each of said plurality of signal display panels disposed adjacent and overlying or underlying one another and extending outwardly in a single direction from said signal support assembly while remaining interconnected thereto, and 
 a vessel mount assembly operatively interconnected to said signal support assembly, wherein said vessel mount assembly comprises a mount member to securely mount said collapsible multi-directional signal display assembly to a portion of the vessel. 
 
     
     
       2. The vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein each said interconnect member comprises at least one first coupling member affixed to one of said oppositely disposed ends thereof. 
     
     
       3. The vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein each said interconnect member comprises a first coupling member affixed to each of said oppositely disposed ends thereof. 
     
     
       4. The vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly as recited in  claim 3  wherein said signal mount assembly comprises at least one indexed member having a plurality of second coupling members attached thereto. 
     
     
       5. The vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein said at least one indexed member further comprises a plurality of guide channels, wherein each of said plurality of guide channels corresponds to a different one of said plurality of second coupling members. 
     
     
       6. The vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein each of said plurality of signal display panels further comprises an upper edge and a lower edge. 
     
     
       7. The vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein said deployed orientation of said plurality of signal display panels is at least partially defined by at least one said first coupling member affixed to one said oppositely disposed end of said interconnect member of each of said plurality of signal display panels disposed in an operative engagement with a corresponding different one of said plurality of second coupling members of said at least one indexed member, and at least a portion of one of said upper edge or said lower edge of each of said plurality of signal display panels is disposed in a corresponding one of said plurality of guide channels of said at least one indexed member. 
     
     
       8. The vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein said deployed orientation of said plurality of signal display panels is further defined by each of said first coupling members affixed to each of said oppositely disposed ends of said interconnect member of each of said plurality of signal display panels disposed in an operative engagement with a corresponding different one of said plurality of second coupling members of oppositely disposed indexed members, and at least a portion of each of said upper edge and said lower edge of each of said plurality of signal display panels is disposed in operative engagement within a corresponding one of said plurality of guide channels of said oppositely disposed indexed members. 
     
     
       9. The vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly as recited in  claim 8  wherein said complimentary signal indicia affixed onto corresponding adjacent ones of said plurality of display surfaces in combination form a single indicia representative of a U.S. dive flag. 
     
     
       10. The vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein said collapsed orientation of said plurality of signal display panels is at least partially defined by each of said first coupling members affixed to each of said oppositely disposed ends of said interconnect member of each of said plurality of signal display panels disposed in an operative engagement with a corresponding different one of said plurality of second coupling members of oppositely disposed indexed members, while each of said upper edge and said lower edge of each of said plurality of signal display panels is disengaged from and outside of corresponding ones of said plurality of guide channels of said oppositely disposed indexed members.